Image Courtesy: indiatoday.in
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a former mayor in connection with a Narada sting operation. The case refers to a sting operation where all four were caught accepting bribes on camera. The move comes a week after West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar sanctioned prosecution against them.
The CBI arrested TMC ministers Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherji, TMC MLA Madan Mitra and ex-Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee who was previously a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following the arrest TMC supporters gathered outside the CBI office in Kolkata and held demonstrations. Mamata Banerjee too reached the Nizam Palace venue and refused to budge saying that the arrests were illegal.
Meanwhile, Banerjee’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek urged party workers and supporters to refrain from violence. He tweeted, “I urge everyone to abide by the law & refrain from any activity that violates lockdown norms for the sake of the larger interest of Bengal and its people. We have utmost faith in the judiciary & the battle will be fought legally.”
I urge everyone to abide by the law & refrain from any activity that violates lockdown norms for the sake of the larger interest of Bengal and its people.
We have utmost faith in the judiciary & the battle will be fought legally.
— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) May 17, 2021
The governor too tweeted asking for law and order to be maintained:
Concerned at alarming situation. Call upon @MamataOfficial to follow constitutional norms & rule of law.
Police @WBPolice @KolkataPolice @HomeBengal must take all steps to maintain law & order.
Sad- situation is being allowed to drift with no tangible action by authorities.
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 17, 2021
Meanwhile, The Telegraph quoted a CBI statement that said, “Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee, Madan Mitra and Sovan Chatterjee have been arrested today by CBI anti-corruption bureau and are being produced in the jurisdictional court. On completion of investigation, prosecution sanction was sought against the public servants… Further investigation of the case shall continue.”
Senior lawyer and Congress spokesperson, Abhishek Manu Singhvi raised an interesting point when he tweeted about the possible illegality of the arrests saying, “West Bengal arrestees cannot be proceeded against without Speaker’s sanction. Hence lack of jurisdiction plus vindictive arrest plus timing of arrests, all smack of, steeped in and clearly proves cheapest and most vile vendetta.”
3/3As MLA’s, #WB arrestees cannot be proceeded against wo #Speaker’s sanction. Hence lack of jurisdiction plus vindictive arrests plus timing of arrests, all smack of, steeped in & clearly proves cheapest &most vile vendetta!
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) May 17, 2021
About the Narada sting
The sting operation was carried out by Narada News portal CEO Mathew Samuel in 2014, but the tapes that show as many as 12 leaders taking bribes were made public only in 2016 around the time of elections. Interestingly, among the 12 were Mukul Roy and Suvendu Adhikari who have since jumped ship to the BJP. Interestingly, the BJP quietly removed a video of the sting operation from its Youtube site.
The Calcutta High Court had ordered a probe into the case in 2017, and the Supreme Court rejected a plea by the West Bengal government for a stay on the order for a probe.
Related:
BJP removes Narada sting operation from YouTube channel, faces storm of criticism